Ohio State Suspending Classes Until March 30 Due To Coronavirus

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio State University is cancelling all in-person classes until at least March 30 because of new coronavirus fears, the school announced Tuesday. Students living on-campus are allowed to return home and complete their classes online.

In a letter sent to the Ohio State community on Tuesday, university President Michael Drake said there are no known cases of coronavirus on campus, but he wanted to be proactive in protecting student and staff health.

"I understand that our policy guidelines will cause measurable disruption, but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. The safety of our campus community is always our top priority," Drake said.

Students will be encouraged to complete their classwork online. Students who remain on campus will be asked to distance themselves from large social gatherings and to practice safe hygiene.

Ohio State is also cancelling all university-sponsored international travel.

No new events will be scheduled or held at Ohio State. Officials are asking event organizers who have planned gatherings between now and April 20 to evaluate the necessity of their event.

"As mentioned, the situation is evolving daily. All guidelines are subject to change as emerging events warrant. I appreciate your understanding and continued cooperation during these changing times. I also want to express my thanks to the individuals and teams who have worked many hours to implement plans that will help keep our community safe," Drake said.

On Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Ohio had its first confirmed cases of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, among residents. Three people living in Cuyahoga County were diagnosed with the virus.

There are currently 755 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. and 22 related deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University.